Ignition system for explosion-engines.



R. VARLEY. IGNITION SYSTEM FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEG-1. 1006.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

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UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD VARLEY, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOCOILCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION SYSTEM FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

Application filed December 1, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD VARLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Englewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I nition Systemsfor Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to ignition systems for explosion en ines,particularly of that type having a p urality of induction coils withtheir secondaries connected with the spark plugs of a multiple cylinderengine, and having circuit controlling devices in their primary circuitsby which their operation is controlled to properly time the explosions.The ordinary circuit controlling device for this purpose effects theclosure of the circuits of different coils successively, each for adefinite period, which, however, varies with the speed of the engine.The longer the period of circuit closure or dwell, the more efiectivethe ignition becomes, but, on the other hand, a long circuit closureconsumes a great deal of battery current, and, in many cases, uselessly,since the engine ordinarily operates properly with a very short currentduration. This difficulty is increased by the fact that the ordinarycircuit controlling device is operated from the engine, so that theprimary dwell is less at hi h speeds than at low speeds.

t is the principal object of my present invention to have the primarycircuit closure or dwell controllable so as to be suited to theconditions.

With this principal object in view the invention consists in thearrangement of circuits and parts by which the primary circuit closureor dwell is varied by merely making or breaking an electrical connectionor cir cuit. This action may be under the control of the driver, or itmay be done automatically as desired.

The invention further consists in the features of construction andcombination as hereinafter set forth, and finally pointed out in theclaim.

The drawing shows a partly diagrammatic View illustrating onelembodimentof the invention.

In 0 crating a motor car it is desirable to use as ittle battery currentas possible, not only for the purpose of saving the battery,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Serial No. 345,864.

but also to avoid overworking the coils, overworking the vibrators, andoverheating the spark plugs. If, however, the circuit controllingdevices are adjusted to suit the ordinary normal conditions when thevehicle is running at slow speeds, the circuit closure will not be longenough when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds, or, in some caseswhere increased power is desired, or where the mixture in the cylindersis not quite right, so that the engine does not ignite pro erly.Accordingly it is extremely desira le to have the circuit closure orprimary dwell adjustable, and many plans have been proposed foraccomlplishing this. By the present invention secure such control whollyby making and breakin an electric circuit, which can be accomp ished bya simple switch located at any point on the car, and convenient to thedriver if desired. Such control may also be effected automatically by agovernor, as will be later pointed out.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the samereference sign, 1 indicates a shaft, revolving commensuratelyfwith theengine, and usually denominated the half time shaft by reason of thespeed relation most commonly used. For the purposes of illustration thisshaft is shown in a conventional way, having two separate devicesthereon at different points of its length. The two devices are searately illustrated, and are connected by otted lines to represent theposition of the shaft 1. The upper device constitutes a circuitcontroller, and has an arm 2- carried by the shaft 1, and having aroller 3, which is normally spring impelled outward by a spring 4. 5indicates segments in the path of the roller 3, these segments beingcomparatively long so as to make electrical contact with the rollerthrough a fairly large angle of rotation thereof. For example, thesegments 5 may contact with the roller 3 through an angle of 50 ofrotation thereof. The shaft 1 also has a cam 6, thereon, which acts upona pivoted lever 7, having a contact 8, moved into and out of engagementwith a fixed contact 9. The cam 6 is arranged to separate the contactsat the points 8 and 9 four times during the revolution of the shaft 1.These features thus far described are in their mechanical details notpart of the present invention, but are claimed in my oopending case,Serial No. 343,833. The present case relates more particularly to theelectrical circuits and connections which may be employed therewith.

The relation of the cam 6 to the roller 3 forms an important feature ofthe present invention. The adjustment is such that the cam 6 acts toseparate the contacts 8 and 9 at just about the point when the roller 3has passed half way across any one of the segments 5.

B denotes a battery, of which 1 and Z are the terminals. The terminal Zhas a connection with the primaries of each of the in duction coils C, Cand C, through wires m, m m and m. The other terminals of the coils areconnected to the segments 5 through wires n, n n and n". v denotevibrators of the ordinary form and located in such connections. Theroller 3 is permanently grounded by its connection with the shaft 1,thereby completing a circuit through one or another of the primaries incase the terminal I of the battery happens to be simultaneously rounded.

The termina Z is arranged to be grounded permanently or intermittentlyat different times. For this purpose a switch arm 10 moves betweencontact points 11 and 12, of which 11 is permanently grounded, while 12isconnected to the fixed contact 9 above described. When the lever 7moves against the contact 9 a ground connection is made to the shaft 1,but when the cam 6 impels the lever away from contact 9, this groundconnection is broken.

The operation is as follows: Supposing the roller 3 to have just movedinto contact with segments 5, a current will pass from battery B,through wire Z, wire m primary of coil C vibrator 12, wire n segment 5,roller 3, arm 2, shaft 1, lever 7, contacts 8 and 9, switch arm 10, andwire 1*, back to battery. When the roller 3 is moved about half wayacross the segment 5, the cam 6 will impel the lever 7 to separate thecontacts 8 and 9, so that this circuit is broken. It is evident that therimary circuit closure or dwell is about hat the angular movement of theroller 3 on the segments 5 under these circumstances. In other words,the primary dwell would be about 25 of rotation of the half time shaft.This condition corresponds to normal running, and is suflicient in mostcases for perfect ignition. Under some circumstances, however, as, forexample, when high speed is to be attained, or in climbing hills, alonger circuit closure or dwell is required, and this may be at onceobtained by moving the switch blade 10 over on to the contact 11. Underthese circumstances, the terminal I of the battery becomes permanentlygrounded so that the riniary circuits of the induction coils are c osedduring the entire interval that the roller 3 is in contact with thesegments 5. The primary circuits are therefore closed during about ofthe half time shaft under these conditions. Thus the primary circuitclosure or dwell is regulated by the movement of a simple switch at anypoint of the car, and without any change in the standard mechanism suchas described in my above mentioned application, but merely in theelectrical circuits thereof.

What I claim, is z, N

In an ignition system for explosion engines, a single revoluble memberhaving a circuit controller and a cam, said circuit controller havingsegments separated by spaces of appreciable width, and said cam havingprojecting portions of less angular extent than that of said segments,an induction coil, a current source having a terminal connected thereto,a contact connected to the other terminal of said current source, avibrating art positively impelled by said cam to brea the circuit atsaid contact, and means for permanently grounding said last mentionedterminal, whereby the primary dwell is increased to a value adapted toordinary high speed running conditions.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

RICHARD VARLEY.

W'itnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, WALDO M. OIIAPIN.

